We pray for...
Pastor Becky Resch (Candidacy & Leadership Manager, Reg 7&8), hospitalized
Bill Kauffman (spouse of Pastor Patt Kauffman, St Paul, Ridgefield) recovering from hip surgery
Pastor Wendolyn Trozzo (Grace, Somers Point) recovering from surgery
We pray for all who suffer in places of war and violence—especially Ukraine, Sudan, Gaza, and Iran.
These congregations of our synod...
Good Shepherd, Holmdel
Trinity, Dover
Redeemer, Vineland
These companion synods in the ELCA and around the world...
Grand Canyon Synod, ELCA
Northwestern Pennsylvania Synod, ELCA
Evangelical Lutheran Church in Lithuania
Lutheran Church of Senegal
We continue our prayers for...
| | | |
Synod Assembly News
Assembly Registration is open!
Links and information can be found at
www.njsynod.org/assembly
Upcoming Mission District Meetings
Northern District, Saturday, March 14, 2026 (10:00 AM), Grace, Teaneck
Delaware District, Sunday, March 15, 2026 (4:00 PM), St. Stephen, Woodbury
Gateway District, Sunday, March 22, 2026 (4:00 PM), St. Paul, Jersey City
Middle District, Saturday, April 11, 2026 (2:00 PM), Hope, Freehold
| | |
Synod Assembly Trivia!
Which of the following combinations of voting members can a congregation NOT send to Synod Assembly?
A) Three adults over the age of 30
B) Two adults over 30 and one youth/young adult under 30
C) One adult over 30 and two youth/young adults under 30
D) Three youth/young adults under the age of 30
The answer is A!
Every congregation is entitled to send two voting lay members of any age, plus one additional youth or young adult under the age of 30. While the two lay members can be under 30, the third member must be a youth or young adult.
Please check within your congregations for young people interested in the "behind-the-scenes" work of the church. The Youth Ministry Mission Team (YMMT) will be at the Assembly with a dedicated table, giveaways, and a community lunch. Additionally, we will reach out to all registered youth and young adults prior to the event to invite them to a Zoom session focused on understanding Robert’s Rules and the structure of the Synod Assembly.
If you have any questions, please reach out to us at yout...@njsynod.org.
| |
ROSTERED MINISTERS - SAVE THE DATE!
Bishop's Ministerium Day will be held on Tuesday, April 28. (Fellowship time, Monday evening, April 27).
More details and registration coming soon.
| | | |
Join The Saints Go—a new NJ Synod cohort for rostered and lay leaders open to the Spirit’s nudge. Learn new ways to tell Jesus’ story, discern, innovate, collaborate, and dream together. Explore fresh expressions of church and deepen spiritual practices alongside others listening for God’s movement in our neighborhoods.
Starts April 18, 2026.
More info: Pastor Maristela Freiberg • maristela...@elca.org
| | |
PLEASE SHARE YOUR CONGREGATION’S 2026 MISSION SUPPORT INTENTION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
72 of our 143 congregations have replied already! Thank you! If you have not done this yet, please do so soon. You may respond by any one of the following ways:
| | |
Caring for God's Good Creation:
Lenten Resources: Food Loss and Waste
The NJ Synod Care of Creation team Lenten video and meditation series on Food Loss and Waste continues here.!
For March 11, watch Rutgers’ video “Food Waste in the Food System” and read the meditation from Pastor Jeff Elliott, "Blessed are the mindful shoppers, for their baskets carry only what will be cherished and used." Afterward, take a moment to think about the reflection questions and pick a practice to try this week - and check out the recipe and prayer for the week.
Check out a new video, meditation, recipe, and prayer for each week of Lent.
Lenten Series Poster
| | |
Introducing the Church Property Resource Hub: ELCA Town Hall
You are invited to learn more about the Church Property Resource Hub, a new project of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), at one of three upcoming town halls.
These webinars are an introduction to the project for congregations and all people
connected to the management of church property. Join to explore support available to
congregation leaders as they seek to steward property in faithful and practical ways.
Register for the zoom meeting and complete the survey.
Tuesday, March 17, 1 p.m. Central time (2p EST) Register today.
Thursday, March 19, 4 p.m. Central time (5p EST) Register today.
Tuesday, March 24, 1 p.m. Central time (2p EST) Register today.
Developed in response to requests from synod and congregational leaders, the Church
Property Resource Hub offers support in navigating the opportunities and challenges that
buildings and land represent for congregational vitality and the wider mission of the
church.
| | |
An Easter Retreat
for Pastors and Deacons
Tues-Thurs, April 21-23
New Life for Weary Souls
Led by Dr Audrey West & Pastor Dale Selover
Held at Cross Roads Camp & Retreat Center
Register at: h...@popnj.org
Download the flyer for details.
| | |
Celebrate Reformation Day 2026 with the NJ Synod
in Lutherstadt Wittenberg, Germany
Reformation: Then and Now
October 26 - November 5, 2026
Click here for Bishop Compton's Invitation, Itinerary & Registration info:
www.njsynod.org/germanytrip
Travel with Synod friends, Bishop Compton and our docent, The Rev. Dr. Kit Kleinhans, recently retired Dean of Trinity Lutheran Seminary.
Interested? germa...@njsynod.org
Pastor Carol Lindsay, Synod Trip Coordinator
Church administrators: Click here to add this to your publications
| | |
LAST CALL for LSM 2026!
Enrollment for this summer is over 80% full, but there’s still time for young musicians to apply, and for you to nominate students. Lutheran Summer Music is the nation’s premier faith-based music academy for high school musicians. Students come together from around the country for a joyful summer of music-making through large ensembles (band, choir, orchestra), chamber music, private lessons, elective classes (conducting, composition, jazz, musical theatre, handbells, pipe organ) and use their musical gifts in performance, and in worship.
LSM 2026 | St. Olaf College, Minnesota | June 21 - July 19 | Grades 8 - 12 | Learn more: LSMacademy.org/program
| | |
|
A publication of the New Jersey Synod, ELCA ©2026
|
| | | |
